March 2016 Istanbul bombing

The March 2016 Istanbul bombing was a suicide car bombing carried out by the Islamic State in the Taksim Square of Beyoglu on the European side of Istanbul on 19 March 2016. 5 people were killed and 46 wounded in the attack, which occurred on Istiklal Avenue, the busiest avenue in Turkey.

Background
The Islamic State executed several terrorist attacks in Turkey during the Syrian Civil War due to the government's alliance with the United States and the moderate Syrian Opposition, and along with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), they were behind many suicide bombings in major Turkish cities. The attack was the fourth suicide bombing in Turkey in three months, with the Islamic State carrying out a January 2016 bombing in Istanbul and the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) carrying out two bombings in Ankara. On 19 March 2016, Germany issued a warning to its citizens in Istanbul that a terrorist attack was imminent, but the Turkish government chose to ignore the warnings. Germany even went so far as to close its consulate, but the Turkish government remained convinced that the situation was normal.

Attack
On 19 March 2016 at 10:55 AM, Islamic State member Savas Yildiz drove a vehicle into the Beyoglu district's Istiklal Avenue near Taksim Square, the busiest avenue in Turkey and a major shopping center popular with tourists. Yildiz had a cluster bomb in his car, packed with nails and metal. He drove the car down the avenue, but he was frightened at the sight of police, so he detonated his car bomb in front of a restaurant before he could reach his destination. 5 people were killed and 46 people wounded in the bombing, and the fact that it targeted tourists was a strong sign that the Islamic State was responsible. Yildiz was identified as the bomber by the government, with Mehmet Ozturk as another suspect.